Fixing device to bearing structures for the support of panels e.g. in glass, marble or similar, with puctiform anchorage and spherical joint

ABSTRACT

A fixing device (D) for panels ( 2 ) made, for example, of glass or the like by means of anchorage means with spherical joint, comprises at least one support equipped with means for fastening the edge of the panels ( 2 ), in which each panel to be fixed intersects, with its own thickness, a spherical surface of rotation of the spherical joint itself. In this way, it is advantageously possible to prevent any need to make holes in the panels ( 2 ) themselves.

The present invention basically regards the building sector for theconstruction of the fronts of buildings and of continuous roofing withpanels made of glass and the like, and in particular to an innovativesystem for fixing said panels to load-bearing structures.

In the building sector, there is quite a widespread use, in theconstruction of fronts of buildings, roofs, floors, etc., of plates ofglass for single glazing or double glazing, whether suspended orresting, with the utilization of spherical joints and holes made in theplates of glass.

Other systems envisage the use of supports, with resting of the pane ofglass without any spherical joints and clamping thereof with an externalpressure element.

Both of the known systems give rise to problems of both a technical andan economic nature.

In the first case, with the making of holes in the glass (an operationthat is quite costly) there are concentrated stresses on the hole.Consequently, in order to withstand the loads to which the glass issubjected, it is necessary to increase its thickness. Furthermore, forthe same reason the glass must always be tempered. The step ofinstallation on the building site presents considerable difficulties, itbeing necessary to combine perfectly the holes made in the glass withthe position of the supports for anchorage to the structure.

In the second case, since the pane of glass rests on the support and isblocked with an external pressure element, there is the risk of theglass breaking both on account of expansion or strain of theload-bearing structure and on account of the stresses induced in theglass by its own weight or by external actions, such as wind or snow.

The main purpose of the present invention is to overcome said drawbacksby providing a system for fixing the panels made of glass or the likeusing anchorage means with a spherical joint which will not require themaking of holes in the panels themselves.

This has been obtained, according to the invention, by providing afixing system which comprises at least one support equipped with meansfor fastening the edge of the panels, in which each panel to be fixedintersects, with its own thickness, the spherical surface of rotation ofthe spherical joint itself.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from theensuing detailed description of the invention with reference to theattached plate of drawings, which illustrate, purely by way ofnon-limiting example, some preferred embodiments thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a median cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged details corresponding to components that canbe used in specific cases;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are, respectively, a front view and a cross-sectionalview of a component of the fixing device;

FIGS. 5A-5B, 6A-6B, 7A-7B, 8A-8B, 9A-9B, 10A-10B, all of which aresimilar, respectively, to the previous ones 4A-4B, regard othercomponents of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a side view of the fixing screw of the device described;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of theinvention;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectionalview of the support of the device of FIG. 13;

FIGS. 17 and 18 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectionalview of the pressure element of the device of FIG. 13;

FIGS. 19 and 20 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectionalview of the support of the device of FIG. 12;

FIGS. 21 and 22 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectionalview of the pressure element of the device of FIG. 12;

FIGS. 23 and 24 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectionalview of the support of the device of FIG. 14; and

FIGS. 25 and 26 are, respectively, a side view and a cross-sectionalview of the pressure element of the device of FIG. 14.

The fixing device D for supporting panels with punctiform anchorage andspherical joint according to the present invention, in addition toovercoming the drawbacks and defects of current systems, renders theoperations of installation simpler and more economically advantageous.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the fixing device D of the panel2 basically comprises a support 82 and a pressure element 32, setbetween which are two pairs of spherical caps 4 set opposite to oneanother, which press a panel 2 set between them, said caps 4 in turnhousing purposely provided spherical seats made, respectively, in thesupport 82 and in the pressure element 32.

According to a peculiar characteristic of the present invention, theheight of the caps 4 set opposite to one another is such that, added tothe thickness of the panel 2, it is equal to the diameter of the spherethat generates both the caps 4 and their seats, in the support 82 and inthe pressure element 32.

Said spherical caps 4 are preferably made of nylon or of Derlin® (anextremely resistant and stable plastic material).

The panel 2 that is withheld between the spherical caps 4 is preferablymade of glass (whether single-glazed or double-glazed) and canadvantageously be set horizontally, vertically or however inclined inspace.

The external pressure element 32 is fixed to the support by means of ascrew 6 preferably with a conical head, designed to be tightened in thestem G of the support 82. To prevent the screw 6 from possibly looseningoff, an appropriate conical ring (locking spring washer) 7 is provided.

In the first embodiment that is described (FIGS. 1-12 and 19-22), thestem G of the support 82 has a second threaded hole coaxial with thehole for locking of the screw 6, in which a bolt 9 is inserted to renderthe support fixed to a load-bearing structure 10.

It may be readily understood that, on account of a strain of the glassor of the support, there is a rotation of the panel/spherical capsensemble with respect to the fixing device without dangerous stressesbeing induced in the panel 2 (preferably made of glass), which may causebreaking thereof.

The spherical caps 4 and the glass 2 are simply in contact, and sincethe spherical caps are made of plastic material, such as, for example,Derlin®, there may easily arise a relative sliding originated either bythe stresses induced by external agents or by possible thermalexpansion, without thereby jeopardizing stability of the fixing device.

In the case where a pane of glass 2 made of a single plate is used, thethickness of the ensemble formed by the glass and the spherical capswill generate a sphere of diameter different from the one generated withdouble glazing. In this case, in order to enable use of the same support82 and of the same pressure element 32, an adapter 12 made of nylon orDerlin® is provided, which externally is spherical, with a radius equalto that of the seat of the support 82 and of the pressure element 32,and internally has a spherical seat with a diameter equal to the spheregenerated by the two spherical caps 4 for the single glazing 2 (FIG. 3).As an alternative to said solution, it is possible to use only thespherical caps 4, employing supports and pressure elements withspherical seats having a radius equal to that of the spherical caps 13.

In the case where, during installation, the glass were not to restcorrectly on one or more spherical caps of the support, use of adapterswith variable thickness 14 designed to slot into the spherical cap 4 isenvisaged (FIG. 2).

In the case where an adjustment of the entire support were necessary, apurposely provided lock nut 16 is released, and the support 82 is turnedby screwing it or unscrewing it on the bolt 9 until it reaches thedesired position, and is then locked in position by tightening the samelock nut 16.

In order to be certain that, during installation, the spherical caps ofthe support 82 and of the pressure element 32 are coaxial, a pin 15 isinserted, which renders the support and the pressure element fixed.

To prevent the glass from coming into direct contact with the metal ofthe support, a shim 18 made of soft, preferably plastic, material is setin between.

The invention envisages that the gap between the various panes of glassthat will constitute the finished work, fronts of buildings, roofings,etc., will be sealed with a silicone sheath and silicone on the outside.Said operation must be carried out before installing the externalpressure element 32.

With installation of the pressure element 32, stable fixing of the panesof glass to the support is ensured.

The description provided herein relates to a fixing device D with twopunctiform spherical rests. Clearly, the fixing devices can have onerest, or else two, three, four or more than four rests.

The technical considerations set forth above and the mode of operationof the invention apply irrespective of the number of spherical rests.

A second embodiment of the invention, particularly suitable for fixingof the terminal panels, is shown in FIGS. 13 and 15-18, which regard afixing device D with a single rest (a pair of spherical caps),comprising a support 81 and a pressure element 31.

A third embodiment of the invention, particularly suitable for fixingthe corner ends of adjacent panels, is shown in FIGS. 14 and 23-26,which regard a fixing device D with four rests.

The use of the supports forming the subject of the present patentapplication for industrial invention, enables construction of fronts ofbuildings, roofings, tunnels, etc., with panes of glass sethorizontally, vertically or however inclined in space with sphericaljoints, without there being any need to make holes in the glass, thussimplifying considerably the operations of installation so that thefinal cost of the work will be much lower than what can be obtained withcurrent solutions.

The present invention has been described and illustrated in some of itspreferred embodiments, but it is clear that modifications and/orreplacements that are technically and functionally equivalent may bemade thereon by any person skilled in the branch, albeit remainingwithin the sphere of protection of the present industrial patent.

1. A fixing device (D) for panels (2), made, for example, of glass orthe like, by means of anchorage means with spherical joint,characterized in that it comprises at least one support equipped withmeans for fastening the edge of the panels (2), in which each panel tobe fixed intersects, with its thickness, a spherical surface of rotationof the spherical joint itself, thus achieving prevention of the need tomake holes in the panels (2) themselves.
 2. The device according toclaim 1, characterized in that it basically comprises at least onesupport (82, 81, 84) and at least one pressure element (32, 31, 34),between which are set one or more pairs of spherical caps (4) setopposite to one another, which press a panel (2) set between them, saidcaps (4) being housed in turn in purposely provided spherical seatsmade, respectively, in the corresponding support (82, 81, 84) and in thecorresponding pressure element (32, 31, 34).
 3. The device according toclaim 2, characterized in that the height or thickness of the caps (4)set opposite to one another is such that, added to the thickness of thepanel (2), it is equal to the diameter of the sphere that generates thecaps (4).
 4. The device according to claim 2, characterized in thatprovided in the support (82, 81, 84) and in the pressure element (32,31, 34) are spherical seats for said caps (4).
 5. The device accordingto claim 2, characterized in that said spherical caps (4) are made ofnylon, Derlin®, or other resistant and stable plastic material.
 6. Thedevice according to any one of claim 2, characterized in that the panel(2) that is withheld between the spherical caps (4) is made of glass,either single-glazed or double-glazed, and is designed to be sethorizontally, vertically or however inclined in space.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 2, characterized in that the external pressureelement (32, 31, 34) is fixed to the support (82, 81, 84) by means of atleast one screw (6) preferably with conical head, designed to betightened in the support itself.
 8. The device according to claim 7,characterized in that, in order to prevent the screw (69 from possiblyloosening off, an appropriate conical ring (locking spring washer) (7)is provided.
 9. The device according to claim 7, characterized in thatsaid screw (6) is tightened in the stem (G) of the support (82, 84). 10.The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the stem (G) ofthe support (82, 81, 84) has a second threaded hole, in which a bolt (9)is screwed so as to render the support fixed to a load-bearing structure(10).
 11. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that thespherical caps (4) and the glass (2) are mounted simply in contact so asto render possible relative sliding originated either by the stressesinduced by external agents and by possible thermal expansion, withoutjeopardizing the stability of the fixing device.
 12. The deviceaccording to claim 2, characterized in that, in order to enable use of agiven support (82, 81, 84) and of a given pressure element (32, 81, 84)with panels (2) of different thickness, an adapter (12) made of plasticmaterial, such as for example nylon or Derlin®, is provided, whichexternally is spherical with a radius equal to that of the seat in thesupport (82, 81, 84) and in the pressure element (32, 31, 34) andinternally has a spherical seat with diameter equal to the spheregenerated by the two spherical caps of small diameter (4′).
 13. Thedevice according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the case where,during installation, the panel (2) were not to rest correctly on one ormore spherical caps of the support, the use of adapters of differentthickness (14) designed to interlock with the spherical cap (4) isenvisaged.
 14. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that,in the case where an adjustment of the entire support (82, 81, 84) werenecessary, a lock nut (16) purposely provided on the bolt (9) isreleased, and the support (82, 81, 84) is turned, by screwing it orunscrewing it on said bolt (9) until it reaches the desired position,and then locking it again, by tightening the same lock nut (16).
 15. Thedevice according to claim 2, characterized in that, in order to becertain that, during installation, the spherical caps (4) of the support(82, 81, 84) and of the corresponding pressure element (32, 31, 34) arecoaxial, a pin (15) is provided, designed to be inserted to render thesupport and the pressure element fixed.
 16. The device according toclaim 2, characterized in that, in order to prevent the panel (2) frombeing in direct contact with the metal of the support (32, 31, 34), ashim (18) made of soft, preferably plastic, material is provided,designed to be set between the panel and the corresponding support. 17.The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressureelement (32, 31, 34) is designed to be mounted after sealing the usualgap existing between the panels (2) that constitute the finished work(fronts of buildings, roofings, etc.) with a silicone sheath and withsilicone on the outside; the installation of the pressure element (32,31, 34) ensuring a stable fixing of the panels (2) to the correspondingsupport (82, 81, 84).
 18. A fixing device (D) for panels (2) made, forexample, of glass or the like by means of anchorage means with sphericaljoint, substantially as described and illustrated in the presentdescription and in the annexed plate of drawings.